Nice little article here on HD126 contender Chad Khan. I've reprinted it beneath the fold since I have no idea how long these community newspaper links last. Khan's a good candidate, and he'll have the resources he needs to run a strong campaign, but this is a tough district. It's not just that it's a little more than two-to-one Republican based on 2004 voting. It's also that there's very little dropoff from President Bush's vote total and percentage to those of the downballot candidates - Victor Carillo, for example, who usually does the worst among statewide Republicans in district comparisons because of the presense of a Hispanic Libertarian candidate on the ballot, had almost 95% of Bush's total vote, and was within half a point of Bush's percentage. Kathy Stone, the top Democratic votegetter in Harris County, got 34% in HD126 (John Kerry got 32%). In short, there was very little ticket-splitting.

On the plus side for this year, it's an open seat, as former incumbent Peggy Hamric left to make an unsuccessful run for the State Senate. Khan will be an infinitely better and more active candidate than 2004 milk carton poster girl Casey McKinney, who for all anyone knows moved to Northern Virginia immediately after filing her papers. On the other hand, the Republicans did manage to nominate the non-insane contender from their primary, so that and the monolithic nature of the HD126 voters are working for them.

Be that as it may, Khan's a good guy, and you should get to know him better. Click the More link to get started on that.

Chad Khan, the Democratic candidate for State Representative District 126, says he'll push for lower property taxes, increased funding for public education, and expanded healthcare for children if elected. In addition, he'll get tough on crime and fight for environmental protections.

Khan was guest speaker at the governmental affairs meeting at the Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce on June 1. The successful businessman has been very adamant about community activism for the last two decades.

The District 126 race pits Khan against Patricia Harless, who defeated John Devine during the Republican primaries in March. Whoever is elected will represent communities throughout the Spring, Cypress, FM 1960 and IH-45 areas.
Khan has developed a strong community presence serving positions in several organizations such as the Homeowners' Association, Harris County Municipal Utility District, Emergency Medical Services Board and positions within local Democratic groups.

When Wal-Mart's distribution routes ran through his subdivision, he was instrumental in helping the company develop an alternative route. As a result, the distribution center donated $25,000 toward neighborhood improvements.

"It's not that people didn't want Wal-Mart," he said. "It's just that they didn't want those trucks in our subdivision. As a voice of my subdivision, I sat down with them and helped find a common ground for everybody."

Khan held a fund-raising reception at Beso Restaurant near Westheimer where Houston City Councilman Ron Green encouraged Khan's supporters to continue the momentum and help to "take back the House."

When Khan first announced his candidacy, Tom Rowan, president of the 1960 Democrats, took it upon himself to learn more about Khan. After a "pretty vigorous screening," Rowan says he concluded that Khan possessed some of the best political abilities of any candidate and that learning more about him on a personal and political level has been rewarding.

"I'm really pleased to see someone with all of that talent," Rowan said. "I think he has the right temperament relating to middle class and wanting to help people. It's a unique talent to have in Harris County, and I will be pleasantly surprised when they elect him as candidate."